Lea Michele

Born on Aug. 29, 1986 in The Bronx, NY, Michele was raised an only child in Tenafly, NJ by her father, a deli owner, and her mother, a nurse. She began acting as a child, attending Stagedoor Manor, a performance camp that boasted alumnae such as Natalie Portman and Robert Downey, Jr. When she was eight years old, Michele accompanied a friend on an open casting call for a production of "Les Miserables" and won the part as Young Coseette, making her Broadway debut in 1995. Three years later, the actress joined the 1998 original Broadway company of "Ragtime," playing a young Latvian immigrant who travels to America with her widower father. In 2000, Michele made her television debut with a guest... Continue Bio >>